What they said. What they meant.

Plain-language translations from the House of Commons.

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Government Orders

Government Business No. 9—Changes to the Standing Orders

A bill to remove federal barriers to interprovincial trade and improve labour mobility. During discussion, members mostly argued about parliamentary procedure, transparency, and majority vs. minority governments, rather than the substance of the bill.

Official Hansard ↗

Hon. Mark Gerretsen

Liberal
“The other party would do this too if they could.”
Our translation 71% shorter

Martin Champoux

Bloc Québécois
“I want to complain about the Liberals ignoring rules and forcing things through. I don't like hybrid Parliament. The Liberals are bad.”
Our translation 90% shorter

Kyle Seeback

Conservative
“The Liberals will be very authoritarian. I want to warn everyone about it.”
Our translation 57% shorter

Kyle Seeback

Conservative
“The other party is very bad. I don't like how they make laws. They stop us from talking. They won't take our ideas. They will make everything worse.”
Our translation 79% shorter

Arnold Viersen

Conservative
“The other party is very bad. They won't let us talk or ask questions. They will shut us down soon because they can. What do you think about that?”
Our translation 75% shorter

Kyle Seeback

Conservative
“The other party is very bad and unfair. They block things and shut down debate at lots of committees. They might go secret to hide from voters. This hurts democracy.”
Our translation 86% shorter

Hon. Mark Gerretsen

Liberal
“I want my party to have a majority on committees because we have a majority in the House. I don't like that the other party complains about floor crossings. They should stop focusing on individuals and talk about issues instead.”
Our translation 97% shorter

Ted Falk

Conservative
“You said parties should debate issues instead of persons. Okay. So explain why your party deserves sixty percent of a committee when you only earned fifty percent of the vote.”
Our translation 51% shorter

Hon. Mark Gerretsen

Liberal
“That makes sense. We need a large majority on committees because we need it to govern. We have to round up. It's normal.”
Our translation 83% shorter

Martin Champoux

Bloc Québécois
“It's ridiculous. You're rounding wrong to get more people on committees. Just because Conservatives annoy you doesn't mean you get to break the rules. Explain why you suddenly think using your majority gives you the right to take over everything.”
Our translation 79% shorter

Hon. Mark Gerretsen

Liberal
“You know what? Forget fair rules. If we had your majority, we'd seize all the power we could too. Might makes right. Hypocrites!”
Our translation 82% shorter

Hon. Kevin Lamoureux

Liberal
“The other guy acted rudely, but forget that. Let's talk about the people I'm cheering for instead. And by the way, I want a majority to mean we get to run all the committees too. We want that power.”
Our translation 72% shorter

Hon. Mark Gerretsen

Liberal
“I want the party with the most votes to run all the committees too. That's just how we do it.”
Our translation 57% shorter

Dave Epp

Conservative
“You're ignoring the real problem. The Prime Minister flipped this riding on purpose to get a majority. This is an orchestrated power grab.”
Our translation 78% shorter

Hon. Mark Gerretsen

Liberal
“You're jealous that my riding is bigger. This is the first time this has happened. Just because it's new doesn't make it wrong. Stop freaking out about conspiracies. Tell me what they got, I don't see it.”
Our translation 68% shorter

Hon. Kody Blois

Liberal
“The Liberals have more seats now. We should change the rules because of that. The other parties have less seats. This is normal for our system. People can switch parties. It's rare but okay. Conservatives worry about deals. I don't see a problem.”
Our translation 95% shorter

Martin Champoux

Bloc Québécois
“That's bad. I don't like that. I think it's very bad.”
Our translation 67% shorter

Hon. Kody Blois

Liberal
“I'm filling time with kind words and saying nothing anyone could pin down later.”
Our translation 98% shorter

Dave Epp

Conservative
“You've told me to praise when the government helps industries in my riding. So here's a golf clap for extending one tax break. But since the Prime Minister wants more power in committees, how about we use it to extend those tax breaks to every other industry too? My riding needs more help since the Prime Minister failed to get a trade deal with the US like he promised last year. So how about it?”
Our translation 29% shorter

Hon. Kody Blois

Liberal
“We have a trade deal with the United States. Most of our products can enter tariff-free. We're telling the U.S. to stop the tariffs. The tax break for greenhouses is a big benefit for your riding. You should tell your constituents about it.”
Our translation 73% shorter